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Nonprofit Overview

Mission: Operation Gratitude’s mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our First Responder, Active Duty, Veteran, and Wounded Hero communities. We also seek to provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation for these deserving Heroes through hands-on volunteerism, such as collection drives, letter writing campaigns, handcrafted “Made with Love” projects, and care package assembly events.
Every year, Operation Gratitude sends 250,000+ individually-addressed care packages to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas and to their children left behind. Also, to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Heroes and their caregivers. Each package contains food items, hygiene products, entertainment, handmade items, and handwritten letters of support.
Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based corporation, funded entirely by private donations.

Results: Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have assembled and shipped more than 1,500,000 care packages.

Programs: Operation Gratitude annually sends 250,000 care packages addressed to individual service members deployed in combat zones around the world.

Previous Stories

Operation Gratitude is a true Charity where 96+% of all money donated goes back to the Vets for postage. All merchandise donated comes from Americas Best Companies such as,Target, Disney, Sony, See's Candies, and many many others. Additionally donations come from groups who send in donations of food, books, scarves, in addition to checks!
The volunteers are from middle schools as far as fifty miles away to seniors in their eighties, who show up every day! I have worked at other Charities, but this is the best.

2006 was my start with Operation Gratitude that we read about in the newspaper. I was interested as a boot at Fort Ord during basic back in the 1950's in the package I received from my friends in LA. I saw the opportunity to provide that same feeling to the troops overseas today. This is the main volunteer service that we are able to do together.
JKT

My son and I have been volunteering at Operation Gratitude for 6 years now. What an incredible organization! We have volunteered at almost every prep or assembly day, helping to put together packages to be shipped to deployed military personnel, as well as wounded warriors and veterans. My father was career Air Force and my brother served in Vietnam. So I know how important it is to our troops to receive something during Mail Call. Supporting our troops is so important, and Operation Gratitude definitely gets the job done in an efficient and cost-effective way. Please donate, not only goods but your time -- you won't be sorry, and you'll know your efforts are greatly appreciated.

I started volunteering because I was not able to serve my country. I wanted to do something for our soldiers and the families and friends that supported them. Being a wife of a Veteran, makes me happy just knowing how many incredible people out there. I am glad that I volunteer at such an amazing organization.

I have been working with OpGrat since 2010 and look forward to volunteering every time I get the chance to go. We drove 35 miles one way in LA traffic to get there and still enjoy the people and work that t hey do for our true American heroes.

This is an organization that makes soldiers in the field of battle know that they are not forgotten here at home and that what they are doing is greatly appreciated and important. Each box sent is filled with items that may be hard for them to get, but most importantly a hand written letter thanking them personally for their service. Heartfelt items like home made knitted scarves , woven bracelets, phone cards, girl scout cookies and candy are often included. Just having a place like this is so rewarding for volunteers who love our service men and women and want to help them in some way.

What a wonderful group Operation Gratitude is! These people give their time and effort to send thousands of care packages to the men and women of our armed services serving overseas, our wounded warriors as well as the families at home . It is a honor to work with these dedicated, wonderful people. I have been moved to tears more than once when approached by an Operation Gratitude package recipient. Their gratitude and stories are always a moving experience.

I especially appreciate fact that people all over the country (even the world) can participate in sending the packages. Hand made items are included in every box and I know first hand these items come from all 50 states and beyond.

I 've been a volunteer at Operation Gratitude since it's first assemly day in the National Guard Armory. As a veteran, I am accutely aware of how important it is for the morale for our troops to know how much they are appreciated and supported. As a traveling representative for Operation gratitude I have come in contact with many all over the country who have been the recipients of our care Packages. Their response has been all one would need to want to up the ante and outdo what we have been able to do thus far. One of the best things about my experience with Op Grat is the kind of people I get to meet and work with; rich and famous, ordinary Joes and Janes, salt of the earth, giving and loving people of all ages who come together in a common patriotic effort. It has been one of the most satisfying and enriching experiences of my life.

I have been on the receiving end of one of the great care packages from Operation Gratitude!! As a service member bieng thousands of miles from home it is really hard and to receive a care package from a COMPLETE STRANGER saying "thanks" means so much! There are times when we missing our family, the life we had back home and the stress of duty takes it toll on us - and as I opened the box I thought of thepeople back home who made this care package, the appreciation that they have for the sacrifices we make and it sure put a smile on my face! The items in the care package gave us all fond memories of home - the girl scout cookies - we shared stories of when we used to sell them when we were younger! And the heartfelt written letters gave us all a few tears and made us proud to be Americans! Everyone was talking about the care packages and they really lifted morale for us!! We hung up the cards and letters that were inside the box so that everyone could read them and shared the items in the boxes - these care packages were the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started volunteering for Operation Gratitude in the fall of 2010. I have watched the organization grow over the past two plus years and am amazed at the dedication of this organization and its highly supportive volunteer base. With a simple cause, Operation Gratitude makes it easy to say thank you to our military currently serving as well as retired and former military personnel. I plan to continue to volunteer for this organization in the future.